Poll: Should games make you think?

[geldonyetich]

Here's the idea in a nutshell:

I'll often play games because I want to be actively engaged in a challenging mental exercise. Not too tough, not too easy, basically flow theory.

However, what if all you want to do is chill out, relax those burnt out synapses at the end of the day, and not think much at all?

So, I put it to opinion: Should games make you think?

 

[Merciless.Fire]

If it's 2 in the morning, no.

If it's 2 in the afternoon, why not.

 

[Trivun]

Yes. They should make you think about killing Locust and how to survive a zombie (oops, sorry, 'Infected'...) apocalypse.

 

[Ace of Spades]

I don't want to have to think most of the time. I do that for seven hours a day at school (plus homework). I prefer just gluing my eyes to the screen and having some good old mindless fun. An RTS is nice now and then also, but they're a bit slower paced then I like.

 

[Draygen]

If I'm in a good mood, yeah. If I've had a long day, time for some GTA mayhem.

 

[Kelmi]

Yes and no. If you're tired or just lazy, a mindless fun is great but sometimes it's actually fun to think a bit. But they should be two different games.

 

[coffin]

i play most of my days away when im doing my Tafe course so im awake anyway and i love games that give me violence and the challange of thinking out the problems they set before me. My only problem is that these games are few and far between and the one i want i cant get a hold of Theif Deadly Shadows is an awesome game for this. Sorry i got a lil off topic but yeah thinking in games is a must unless your into the mindless stuff like Rail shooters

 

[Alphavillain]

Thinking? I don't like that. Sounds intellectual. And being intellectual hurts my cerebellum. Ouch!

 

[The_Grenglish]

i say a mixture,
depends on what your feeling, right now, ive just put down resident evil 4, i havent played that in ages, takes some thinking
but other times, im playing street fighter, any one, because im just feeling beating something up (gotta love the car bonus level from II lol)

 

[Pirce]

Games can make you think, but they don't have to.

 

[Bagaloo]

Sometimes. Saying all games shouldn't make you think is condemning the entire industry into a bottomless pit of stupidity.

Its nice to play a game that makes you think, challenges you and raises controversial issues.
Having said that, its also nice to play a game like Left 4 Dead which just lets you blast stuff all the time. As with most things in life, a balance is best.

 

[Jagers1994]

Sometimes I like to play insanly stupid but fun games and somtimes I like to think in my games. I like both depending on my mood but most of the time I like games with a deep message.

 

[Jonathan Hexley]

Certain games should. For example, there's a whole genre of them.
Aaah... Puzzle games. Things like Proffessor Layton and Phoenix Wright. Those make you think.

 

[Silver]

Not one or the other, just like with every other medium out there. Both options should be there, and both should be possible.

 

[RedDiablo]

It really depends on the developers. Most of us believe that FPS's are just all about run and gun with no story, but really, the developers could make a story that makes you think. Really, I think Metal Gear without the story could still work, but MGS is known for it's story.

 

[fluffylandmine]

This is why I like the idea of open world games: The game play of the world is set to you so that when you desire it, you can have a challenging experience ;or should you desire a mindless fair.

 

[eatenbyagrue]

You can't have a game not make you think: at the very basic, you're managing the basic mechanics in the game to the best of your ability in order to produce the best possible outcome. You're reacting to sudden changes in environment faster than most astronauts do. I say gaming and thinking are inseparable really.

 

[fedpayne]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ly0YnSBpQQ&feature=related

Guess who that one vote came from?

 

[Hallow'sEve]

Isn't that what's the difficulty button for?

 

[Chickenlittle]

Puzzles are nice and all, but that's not all thinking entails.

Personally, I enjoy having my mind challenged to figure out what's happening in a game, but be given enough information to be able to figure it out. Backstory, for example; I constantly think about what caused certain scenarios.